Jersey City's St. Peter's College's commencement is rainy; to become a university next year

HOLMDEL — Some 872 St. Peter’s College students received their sheepskins yesterday at the PNC Arts Center as part of the Jersey City college’s 121st commencement ceremony.

The St. Peter’s College Class of 2012, which included 638 undergraduate and 234 graduate degree recipients, represents the final class graduating under the Jersey City school’s current moniker.

Next year, the Jesuit college is to become “St. Peter’s University.”

Despite chilly and rainy weather, stands at the outdoor amphitheater were packed with friends and family of the graduates. Many audience members who weren’t lucky enough to land seats under the roof held umbrellas throughout the ceremony.

The event featured two valedictorians: Bikesh Dhunju and Rabindra Shrestha.

“Leaving my home (in Nepal) and my family was a difficult choice to make,” Dhunju told the crowd. But St. Peter’s became “a home that will remain in the heart forever,” he said.

When he first arrived on campus, Shrestha said he wanted “to get through these four years as quickly as possible” so he could focus on his career. But now, he said, he hated to leave.

Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, former under-secretary general of the United Nations, was presented with an honorary doctorate of humane letters and delivered the commencement address.

“You should take the initiative in your hands without waiting for others to tell you what to do,” Chowdhury said. “Today is a day of significant achievement . . . You are seeing the rewards of your hard work.”

The ceremony concluded with St. Peter’s College president Eugene Cornacchia reminding the crowd about the upgrade in the college’s academic status.

“Next year, I will preside over the commencement of New Jersey’s newest university: St. Peter’s University,” he said to a round of applause.